If you have a check cashing card with a visa/MC logo, you can buy online. There is never a bad time to build up your credit. I have 3 cc and everyone of them have had the limit cut and the interest rate is skyrocketing (going up every 2-3 months) so it's probably NOT the best time to get one. If you do stay away from major companies like chase (they cheat you big time), capital 1. If you would like I can give you the name of mine that is still low interest but as I said they are going up monthly so that means nothing. Apply for a credit card at a place like a gas station, then pay it off every month. that builds up credit. As for Visa/MC. Be careful.

In the past, I have overextended myself slightly, but that had more to do with not having enough savings to cover expenses while a workers comp suit was in litigation and a failure of the credit card company's disability insurance to do it's job because my then-employer wouldn't sign the paperwork. The moral there is that the credit card companies do NOT care, so you BETTER pay your bills on time even if you have to stiff your landlord and/or utility companies to do so. That said, I have since got a credit card that I have always paid on-time and that has helped rebuild my credit after that workers comp fiasco. I have used it a few times, but each time I have budgeted a repayment plan and cut my other spending accordingly if need be, though I have recently incurred a few unplanned expenses that required me to go above-and-beyond in order to eat and remain indoors. However, credit *WHEN PROPERLY MANAGED* can give you a little bit of a buffer. Not much, but sometimes enough to (literally) survive. The only real con is that if you don't make at least the minimum payment every month your credit rating suffers and if you don't pay your balance off in full then your purchases accrue interest. Under normal circumstances, that isn't much of an issue, but my life had been anything but normal. If every check you have ever written has been good then you are probably responsible and savvy enough to handle a credit card and it would actually be a GOOD thing just as long as you remember one thing that MANY people forget; it's not free money, it's a loan. If buying online is your ONLY concern then a debit card is worthwhile as most have either a MasterCard or Visa number that will suffice, though you won't have the same fraud protections you would with a credit card. Personally, I prefer to use my debit card online as most of my purchases are under the $50 threshold and I don't like the idea of racking up interest due to bad personal experience in the past, but there are times where credit cards are at worst a necessary evil. On those occasions, I think nothing of paying an extra couple of dollars for the luxury of spreading the payments across a couple of bi-weekly paydays.

Credit counseling, debt consolidation and credit card help through financial education and debt management. Non profit credit counseling since 1991. http://creditcardpay.blogspot.com

This is the way I use and take advantage to the credit card! My bank issued the credit card. This is the deal. There is a limit of the credit the bank allow me. Go above the limit and they would add a hefty charge. Every month, say the 25th day, the bank take what I spent during that month. It means that they lend me the money for a maximum of 30 days, FREE of charge. It costs me nothing, zero, zilch on condition that there are sufficient funds in my current account to cover the credit bills. If you should decide to apply for a credit card, I recommend you ask what sort of insurance cover is involved! It should be automatically included and free of charge.

In USA sadly, having credit card is like a must to have a credit record. I respect people who buy everything they can afford with debit card or cash. All my clients who file bancruptcy are those who have unhealthy lifestyle with exessive CC use. This makes our country collapse.

You need to get a credit card(s) to establish credit. That doesn't mean you have to use them. I lived my whole life without a credit card and found out a couple of years ago that it was not such a good idea. I wanted to buy a house and ended up having to pay higher mortgage rates because I did not have a credit rating. I didn't have a bad one, I just had no rating but it may as well have been the same. I would imagine if I wanted to purchase a car I would be faced with the same problem.

oh how i envy you.i had one bad month at work and boom,i'm screwed.i couldn't make the minimum payment on any of the 3 i have.credit is important to a certain extent but not mandatory.

I cut up my CCs almost 10 years ago but discovered that I couldn't buy online, just as you did. So, I got a bank card and the problem is solved. We never use it for anything else, just online stuff (eBay and bill paying) and paying bills over the phone. With bank cards, there is never any interest as far as I know. If there was I would never have gotten one.

Plain and simple answer. Good: Having a credit card allows you to build credit easily which in turn will make any future loan applications ie mortgage, car, renovations, or whatever as you have established a credit rating. Bad: They charge incredibly high rates of interest, monthly fees depending on the card, can have required min payments, and if you fall behind can hurt your credit rating. Reality is if you pay off your card every month and use it wisely it can help you. Just don't fall into the trap that just because you have the credit to buy something doesn't mean you can afford it.

I'm 48 and have never had a credit card in my life. I do have a debit card through my bank account but have only used it maybe three times for online purchases. I bought my land on a land contract and built my owm house so credit has never relly been a problem. My daily driving truck (If I drive) is a restored 1936 Ford and my back-up is a 1928 Ford pickup with a WW2 German Zundapp motorcycle as a third backup vehicle none of which could be bought on Credit, GF has a 86 Bronco bought with cash and we have an 85 Honda accord that I think is her mothers car. I'm not sure who really owns that. I just drive it sometimes to go to my mailbox. When I paid my land off I got and still get platinum credit cards offers weekly. I don't know how they found out I own my land and house free and clear but I'm not about to go into credit card debt at this point in the game. I just use the offers as fire starter for my wood stove.